Nara's unexpected words echoed in my mind, casting a shadow of confusion over my thoughts. The air hung heavy with the scent of aging wood and simmering tension. The floorboards groaned beneath our weight as we stood amidst the hushed atmosphere, our presence seemingly amplifying the stillness of the surroundings. A faint draft whispered through the cracks, carrying with it the distant sounds of traffic outside, a stark contrast to the quiet drama unfolding within.
Lost in the labyrinth of my thoughts, I whispered softly to myself, the words barely audible amidst the palpable unease that permeated the air. Each syllable seemed to hang suspended, as if reluctant to disturb the fragile equilibrium of the moment.
"Do I have maternal grandparents too? Arnold had done something good in his previous life; he didn't get good parents, but he did get good grandparents. Both paternal and maternal sides are caring." I whispered silently to myself.
Before I could dwell further on my musings, Arnold's adoptive father, Mr. Sheinz, broke the silence with his stern voice, the sharpness of his tone cutting through the quiet like a knife. "What are you talking about? Kids shouldn't meddle in elders' business, and as you know, I am still his father," Arnold's adoptive father, Mr. Sheinz, said.
His words reverberated through the air, punctuating the stillness of the room with a sense of authority and finality. I could feel the weight of his disapproval, his gaze piercing through me like a dagger as he addressed my silent inquiry. But my resolve remained unshaken, a quiet determination burning within me as I confronted the injustices of the past.
"If she didn't have the right, then I have it. I'm not going anywhere. When I was penniless and starving, you didn't even pick me up or search for me even once to see if I was dead or alive. But suddenly, you realize you have an adoptive son too?" I declared, my voice steady despite the tremor of emotion that threatened to betray me.
As I restrained him, guiding him towards the door, I couldn't help but feel a sense of empowerment wash over me. This was my chance to confront the demons of my past, to reclaim what was rightfully mine. But even as I confronted Mr. Sheinz, his indifference remained unchanged, his dismissal of my grievances a bitter reminder of the uphill battle that lay ahead.
"Forgive this, Father. Son, you are my favorite, that's why I came to search for you, even if you stole my watch. I forgive you. Don't you think you should forgive me too?" He kicked out Arnold, not even listening to his explanation, and he didn't even buy a gift for him on his birthday.
"I will forgive if you can tell me when is my birthday? You can at least do that, right? If you can tell me, I will forgive you and forget everything and come with you." I aroused hope in him.
As I awaited his response, I could see the doubt flicker in his eyes, his confidence wavering as the truth of his ignorance dawned upon him. And as he faltered, I seized the opportunity to strike, my resolve unyielding as I confronted him with the harsh reality of his neglect.
"If I tell, you will come with me, right?" He is that confident; does he really know? Let's see if he knows or not.
"Yeah, I will. I will just figure out other ways to deal with him." he whispered to himself, his voice laced with anger and frustration.
"Your birthday is on the 6th of January." He doesn't even know Arnold's birthday. I thankfully saw it on his residency proof ID card.
"Father, you don't even know my birthday. It's the 16th of January." He got shocked.
"Yeah, I mean the 16th of January." he doesn't even remember Arnold's birthday and he was so confident in bringing me home.
"father you were wrong so I don't think I can come with you. I am very hurt."
I want to go home and see for myself what more dramas he has for me. It will be fun.
"You see, you accused me of theft. When I said I didn't do it, you didn't believe me. Why should I go to such a house? When Aaron used to steal my toys and use my things without permission, you never punished him. But when I didn't even do it, you kicked me out from my own house?" Originally, it was Arnold's house, so I should give it to him.
His face turned pale as he started to think and space out. I didn't know what he was pondering deeply; perhaps he had lost hope. This seemed like the right moment to strike, to secure a good profit. We should seize opportunities when they arise.
Seizing the moment, I made my proposition, the words hanging in the air like a silent promise of redemption. This was my chance to turn the tables, to reclaim what was rightfully mine.
"I can still come with you if you do what I want," I proposed. His face, which had lost hope, lit up again with a glimmer of possibility.
"Whatever you say," he agreed immediately, without even listening to my condition.
"Wait, you can't go with him. He's not good brother. I'm also your family; Grandpa will not be happy," Nara cried, her voice tinged with fear and uncertainty. I couldn't access anything – who is her brother and who is Grandpa? If I remember correctly, I don't have a sister, and she clearly knows that I am Angel, not Arnold, the owner of this body. Why did she say I'm her brother? Is she trying to help me? But I don't think I need her help for this kind of thing because I am not the real Arnold. As I tried to piece together the puzzle of my identity, Nara's words cut through the confusion like a beacon of clarity. She was my cousin, and she knew the truth about me. But why did she choose this moment to reveal it, and what did it mean for our future?
Caught in the whirlwind of emotions, I found myself at a loss for words, my mind spinning with possibilities. But even as I grappled with the uncertainty of the situation, a sense of determination welled up within me. I would not let Nara's revelation derail my plans; I would forge ahead, regardless of the obstacles in my path.
"Nara, it's okay. I can handle it," I assured her.
"What can you handle? If not for me, you would've died of hunger on the street. Grandpa didn't even know that his only daughter's child is living like this. He thought you died too in a car accident," she explained. So, basically, by her, I understood that she is my cousin. That's what she meant. Is she worried about Arnold? How does she know that I am not Arnold? A lot was going on in my mind. I couldn't figure out the situation.
"It's okay. I will forgive them. If not for them, who would've raised me? I still got familial love from them. Now I want to repay the same familial love, right, Father?" I smiled at him. I think Nara didn't get me. I bent down as her height was short and whispered in her ear.
"Don't worry, I will make sure to give them back tenfold what I received from them." It's showtime. Let them think of me as a pushover.
"let's go father" i immediately left with him. he don't even have idea what i am going to do with them.
With a smile plastered on my face, I reassured Mr. Sheinz and Nara, masking the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. But as we made our way to Arnold's house, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at me.
After an hour, we reached Arnold's house.
And when we finally arrived, the tension in the air was palpable, a silent testament to the storm brewing within.
"Why did you bring him? He's a thief!" Aaron's mother, Myra, shouted as soon as she saw me. Myra's accusation cut through the silence like a knife, her words dripping with venom as she labeled me a thief. But I remained unfazed, knowing that I held the upper hand in this game of deception.
"Calm down, I will explain," he said, leading Myra into her room to have a private conversation. As Mr. Sheinz led Myra away to have a private conversation, I watched with a sense of detachment, the scene unfolding before me like a surreal tableau. Myra's agitation seemed to subside as he spoke, though her attempt at a smile appeared forced and unconvincing. It was clear she was struggling to maintain composure.
"My son, I am sorry for shouting at you. I know you didn't do it. Even if you did steal, I don't think it's appropriate. As parents, we need to guide you," she said, her tone softening. Myra's attempt at a smile seemed forced and unconvincing, a feeble attempt to mask the turmoil raging within. But her mention of "teaching" left me uneasy. Did she intend to discipline me like a small child, resorting to physical punishment?
"If you have a problem, just leave. The door is always open, Mother," I said, cutting through the tension with a blunt statement. Her smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of hurt and surprise. With a blunt statement, I cut through the tension, my words hanging in the air like a silent challenge. And as Myra's smile faded, replaced by a look of hurt and surprise, I knew that the battle had only just begun.